Small Sparks

- 2 -

"I'm curious about one thing," Astarion said thoughtfully. "If this old junk is really a great and powerful wizard, why couldn't he get food for himself? He hunted a rabbit and two birds and sat hungry."

"Like you can cook," Gale grumbled, annoyed that no one in the camp treated his teacher with respect. "Do you even know what a 'kitchen' is, blueblood?"

"A well-bred nobleman, even a duke, always prepares the main course himself for an honoured guest." Astarion looked at Will. "Yes, Blade of the Frontier?"

"Daddy was not born into the nobility, but was given the title for his heroic deeds. And he took lessons from the palace cook so as not to be ashamed, because he only knew how to cook scrambled eggs with sausage. But even as a boy he could roast his prey on a bonfire."

Gale frowned. And Karlach snorted:

"A lazy, stupid scammer who likes to eat for free. I wouldn't trust a wizard like that to bewitch even old boots."

And she jabbed her finger into Tav's chest.

"You said it was his grandpa!"

"I didn't think you'd heard our conversation," Tav replied. "I didn't want to bother you."

"Soldier, I've been hunting devils for so many years that now I can hear a butterfly flying a kilometre away from me. And if I was sure that this swindler was not Gale's family, he would have lost his head immediately. And with the badass grandpa, you'd have to ask Gale first."

"He's not badass!" Gale was indignant again. "This is my friend and teacher, the most powerful and the wisest!"

"And he betrayed you," Lei'zel typed. "A friend would not come to demand your death, but to advise how to avoid such a fate."

"And if Mystra's neck had to be twisted for it," Tav added, "the friend would not hesitate."

"That's very true, soldier," Karlach smiled with satisfaction.

"Yes," Lae'zel snapped. "A true goddess must distinguish useful adepts from mediocrity and appreciate them. And for explosions, there are too many goblins and goblin-like creatures. If they die for the Absolute, they will also die against she."

"I told you right away, Gale," Karlach added, "it's not a goddess, it's shit. As you can see, I am not the only one who understands this."

To Gale's chagrin, no one was going to admire his selfless sacrifice. They only scolded the fool and demanded that the Mystra be sent to places Gale had never even heard of in the Yawning Portal of Waterdeep. Wyll and Shadowheart also added their no less malicious advice.

Only Astarion, strangely enough, listened in silence and did not, as usual, even begin to mock Tav's habit of meddling in other people's affairs.

And Tav was just looking somewhere in his thoughts, barely perceptibly smiling at them.

"When I become the Absolute, this Mystra will explode by herself. And then I will resurrect her, and she will explode again. No one dares touch those who belong to me."

"My cake," Astarion whispered in his ear. "I can hear the master's thoughts better than others. And yours are so exciting... Will you show me your power tonight?"

Astarion's heart fluttered. Tav could refuse. The only one in the world who could. Tav was not yet under Astarion's love spell, but he still had many who wanted to warm his bed for truly sweet caresses—Tav proved to be the most wonderful lover. And in a strange way, it all fascinated Astarion himself. And if you add Tava's goal... It became more and more of a trap for the elf-vampire.But Astarion had no intention of giving up. It is not yet known who will win!

And gently, imperceptibly to others, he kissed Tava's ear. And measured, waiting for an answer.